Cougar in mercy win over Hall Dale, 11-1

FARMINGDALE -- When everyone is on the same page the results are usually positive and that's what the Dirigo baseball team has received in the Mountain Valley Conference.

Senior Ben Holmes pitched a two-hitter and the offense broke things open with seven runs in the top of the fifth inning as the Cougars triumphed 11-1 against Hall Dale at sun-drenched Lee Field.

Dirigo, with their fourth mercy game this season, have won nine straight games since suffering a loss to Saint Doms last month. Dirigo host Carrabec today, is at Winthrop Friday and will play the Saints next week in Auburn.

Dirigo had trouble adjusting to the Bulldogs southpaw, but scored two runs in the top of the first inning.

Holmes (5-1), meanwhile, settled into a groove with catcher Jake Dowland, who kept the Hall Dale batters off balance. The right hander only allowed a pair of singles in an 87-pitch, six-inning performance. The Cougars played fundamentally sound baseball and the infield of freshman third baseman Tyler Frost, Caleb Turner at shortstop and second baseman Brett Whittemore each fielded ground balls cleanly and threw across the diamond to Cody St. Germain.

"The expectations are the same as they were in basketball," said Holmes, referring to the Class C state championship team. "We've got four seniors (Turner, St. Germain, Dowland), including myself. Plus, we are a junior laden team and have younger guys who can help out also."

Junior Spencer Trenoweth (3-0) stuck out five in a 9-4 win at Madison. Freshman Kaine Hutchins threw two innings of relief, while Snowman led the offense with a double and three RBI.

Against Hall Dale, the Cougars scored a run in the fourth to lead 3-0 and batted around in the fifth. A series of walks and singles unraveled the Bulldogs, who switched pitchers with the count at 3-0. The first five in the batting order - TJ Frost, Turner, Chad Snowman, Holmes and ST. Germain - each scored.

Hall Dale scored its lone run in the bottom of the fifth. Holmes snagged a roller barehanded and threw to Jack Brown for the final out of the game.